Professional rider · eventing coach · horse trainer
Clear, practical coaching and professional horse training — delivered with patience, honesty and a down to earth approach.
Paterson, Hunter Valley · Local lessons & horse training · Clinics Australia-wide
Work with Hazel
One size does not fit all. My aim is to create a flexible and practical training program built around your horse and your ability to get the best result possible.
One-to-one coaching in dressage, jumping, cross country, horsemanship fundamentals and general riding.
I can travel locally to your facility for lessons.
A major focus
Send your horse in for education, a focused training block or an ongoing campaign.
I’m available to travel Australia-wide for clinics, working with clubs, centres and private groups to create sessions suited to the riders and horses attending.
Coaching riders with clear, practical feedbackCoaching style
I aim to keep lessons relaxed and practical, with clear feedback and a strong focus on the horse.
Beginners, nervous riders, adult amateurs and competitive riders are all welcome. Lessons are shaped around where you and your horse are at, and what will help you move forward together.
All levels genuinely welcome
You do not need the “right” horse, the “right” gear, or to wait until you feel “ready” to book a lesson. Horse riding is a lifelong journey, and small, incremental changes along the way can make all the difference.
Testimonials
“When we bought Valerie just over a year ago, we knew we needed the right coach to help our daughter get started in showjumping. Hazel was exactly that person. From the very first lesson, she guided our daughter with patience, clarity and genuine care. Hazel built Sienna’s skills step by step, never rushing and never pushing beyond what was safe, which gave our daughter — and us as parents — real peace of mind. We can’t recommend her highly enough.”
Christina & Sienna Lovedale
“Hazel is such a fantastic coach, and I’ve really loved every opportunity I’ve had to learn from her. She has an incredible ability to quickly read both horse and rider and understand exactly what is needed to help them improve. Hazel is observant, thoughtful and kind, and she adapts her coaching to suit each individual combination. She explains things in a way that makes sense, builds confidence and helps you feel like you’re genuinely progressing.”
Lili Nana Glen
“I have been training with Hazel for well over a year now, and every lesson is rewarding for both myself and my horses. With young horses and older horses alike, Hazel combines world-class knowledge with a patient, supportive style that helps riders build confidence, improve their skills and develop stronger partnerships with their horses. Each lesson is thoughtfully structured, with clear goals and practical feedback that lead to real, measurable progress. Hazel’s professionalism, experience and dedication make her an exceptional coach, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging guidance.”
Samantha Hunter Valley
“Hazel is an incredible coach and horsewoman. She adapts her coaching to every horse and rider differently and gets the best out of every one she teaches. She is patient, kind and genuinely gives you the confidence to do your best. We have had many clinics with Hazel and she gets the very best out of every horse and rider. She works with you at your level of comfort while gently pushing you forwards, and her ability to explain the technical side of riding is exceptional.”
Mel Upper Orrara
For horse owners
Hazel can ride, school and campaign horses on behalf of their owners — from a short block of work through to selected competition starts.
Hazel can help when you are working through a problem, rebuilding confidence or feel your horse has plateaued. She can also prepare and campaign horses for the next level of competition. The focus is on clear, consistent training that helps horse and rider move forward together.
Upcoming clinics
Hazel travels Australia-wide for clinics. If there is not a date near you, your club, centre or private group can enquire about hosting one.
Want Hazel in your town?
Send through your location, likely rider numbers and preferred dates and Hazel can discuss a format that works.
About Hazel
Hazel Shannon is an Australian five-star event rider, Grand Prix dressage rider and coach now based in Paterson in the Hunter Valley.
Hazel grew up in North Queensland and began riding around age three. After campdrafting and showjumping, she moved to Newcastle at 17 as a working pupil — starting what became almost 18 years of learning, producing horses and building an international eventing career.
Her partnership with thoroughbred WillingaPark Clifford became one of Australian eventing’s defining stories. Together they won the Adelaide CCI5*L four times — 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2025 — and represented Australia at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Pratoni.
Hazel is also a current member of Equestrian Australia’s High Performance Eventing Squad, with WillingaPark Clifford and WillingaPark Chelsea listed in the Generation Next program.
Today, that experience sits alongside Hazel’s day-to-day work: riding client horses, helping owners, teaching lessons and making high-level training feel useful and accessible.
See career highlights ↓Career highlights
Generation Next squad member with WillingaPark Clifford and WillingaPark Chelsea.
Current squad ↗Won Adelaide with WillingaPark Clifford in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2025.
Adelaide story ↗Represented Australia at the FEI World Championships in Pratoni and was selected for the CCIO4* Nations Cup in France.
Named as a non-travelling reserve and completed pre-export quarantine with the Australian squad.
Equestrian Australia ↗In the media
Features, interviews and official stories from Hazel’s career.
Inside the partnership behind four Adelaide five-star wins.
Read feature ↗ ABC · 2025A short interview after the pair’s historic fourth Adelaide win.
Listen ↗ Equestrian Life · 2021From 12 years with the Ryans to a new international chapter.
Read feature ↗ Equestrian Hub · 2025The story behind a World Championship moment with Hazel and Clifford at Pratoni.
Read feature ↗Partners
Hazel is incredibly grateful for the support of the people and brands behind her. Their backing makes her training and competition program possible. If you’d like to join the team or support Hazel as a partner, she’d love to hear from you. Partnership enquiries →
Get in touch
Lessons, training, competition rides and clinic hosting all start with a simple enquiry. You do not need to know exactly what package you need.
